Alabama's Official Travel Guide I worked there as a jailor in the county jail there in the old part when it was on the 2nd floor. The building was constructed in Northport on what was once called Cherokee Plantation, owned by Robert Jemison. Shortly after the American Civil War, Cahawba became a ghost town. When Memorial Mound opened on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemerin 1993, it was billed as a new method of laying loved ones to rest. Inside Alabama's abandoned Ruffner Mountain mine, site of 1971 explosion, These abandoned Alabama bridges will make you wonder what's on the other side, Eerie abandoned campus of Alabama's girls reform school, Ghost boats: Abandoned Alabama watercraft, Inside the spooky skeleton of Bryce, Alabama's historic insane hospital, 15 riveting ruins that recount Alabama's past, Crumbling Shelby Hotel gives spooky glimpse into Alabama's resort era. (Source: Namaan Fletcher/What's Left of Birmingham). The only trace that remains is the nearby cemetery, which some believe was initially established as the posts burial ground. Visitors have claimed to have a feeling of being watched and cold chills even on the hottest days. You are reading "15 Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama " Back to Top. These are cars, trucks, and SUVs that were abandoned or otherwise not claimed by their owners after a period of time. If you stop on the bridge and turn off your lights, the couple will enter your car and leave behind a wet stain on your car seat. It has several ghost legends but the tale of Abigail Burns is the most popular. You may experience the presence of a Native American ghost named Mary who knocks things over, plays electrical pranks, alters the temperature, and whispers over the drive-through speakers. A massive oak at the junction of the Pea and Choctahatchee rivers is known as the Constitution Oak and is one of the largest in the state. The Canabiss House in Huntsville today. The buildings, built only for filming exteriors, were not completed and not built to code. Deaths include several from a cholera outbreak in 1900 and one from murder. Legend says the area is haunted by spirits of residents in the form of strange lights that float among surviving buildings. People claim to hear singing and voices in the area surrounding the property and some claim they have seen the apparition of a woman walking the grounds. Haunted Places in Decatur, Indiana Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. 10.7K subscribers Exploring Abandoned Kmart Decatur Alabama Kmart is a chain of big box department stores headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States. The Heart of Dixie is steeped in history, making for truly spooky tales. Decatur, Alabama | Ghostly World Saunders Hall | 40+ Photos | Abandoned Alabama Mining towns were abandoned when the mines closed; many due to the devaluation of silver in 1893. The able-bodied patients at Jemison worked on a hospital farm. White orbs also appear in the childrens room. When he was hanged, his executioners dug a hole beneath his dangling feet to accommodate his height. "When it was built, it was the tallest building in Alabama.". Some people say theyve heard a baby cry or a dog panting or growling while on the property. Prattville was founded by Daniel Pratt, a manufacturer of cotton gins. One-by-one, the boys killed anyone involved in the deaths of their family. were demolished but the main house remains, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Others have reported hearing disembodied screams and footsteps. Some say theyve heard voices and felt cold spots inside the jail. Soon, the family heard the sounds of Evelyn playing the piano down there and decided to send her body to Virginia to be buried in her familys cemetery. It hasnt been used since 2000. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Baker Mansion Weatherford, Texas 35.4 miles from Decatur, TX Haunted Places in Decatur, Texas It was also a very thriving town. The Penney Building is a 31,000-square-foot structure in downtown Dothan. The neglected building is Birmingham's Masonic Temple, also once known as the Colored Masonic Lodge. A local storyteller dressed in period clothing leads the one-mile tour of haunted hotels, infamous murder sites, cemeteries, and more. The cotton press in the Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY! Some have been completely abandoned, making them TRUE ghost towns. 1888 as a private residence. Mill towns were abandoned when the mining towns they serviced closed. One truck driver said that he struck the bridge after a ghostly horse-drawn carriage crossed the interstate in front of him. Gold was discovered in Arbacoochee in the 1830s, causing the town to grow rapidly. All rights reserved (About Us). An abandoned property is usually a property whose original owner is no longer in possession of the home. The Alabama Center for the Arts, a 44,000 square foot arts education facility, and the Princess Theater, a historic art-deco theater built in 1919 are also nearby. Thank you! (Historic American Buildings Survey/Library of Congress). The building has been abandoned since the 1980s. Before that period, the canyon was used as a holding pen for Indians who were removed from their land. (Source: Alabama Department of Archives and History). Two Federal gunboats patrolled the river. 10 Must-Try Decatur Alabama Restaurants | Where to eat - Foodie Flashpacker People have claimed to hear wails of banshees and see ghostly hell hounds and apparitions of Confederate soldiers. The building was constructed in 1930. Childrens laughter has been heard by those working on the third floor, and even outside the bathroom down in the restaurant when there have been no children around. The current owners of the Moody Brick claim that the old plantation is definitely not haunted. Each tour gets on and off the bus during the evening and we do go inside some of Decatur's most haunted locations. Measured by other resorts built in Alabama in the 1800s, such as nearby Shelby Springs Hotel or Blount Springs Resort, the Dennemora Hotel offered a pared-down version of entertainment. However, the house was saved and restored and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Abandoned slave quarters and workshops behind the Cabaniss House at 603 Randolph St. in Huntsville. It served as the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. The Empire building was erected in 1909 on the site of the former Bank Saloon, according to Bham Wiki. It is now the site of a Hampton Inn. Haunted Decatur One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that metal detecting on historical grounds is prohibited. Abandoned Property for Sale: How To Buy an Abandoned Home - realtor.com The oddest sighting is an apparition that appears to be half-wolf and half-man. However, that doesn't stop the tales from being told and retold. Some say the noises come from the ghosts of the original owners. Prairie Bluff is a ghost town in Wilcox County, Alabama that first appeared on maps in 1819. Several witnesses have reported seeing the statues of Romeo and Juliet floating around The University of North Alabama's campus during a full moon. The house has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Goode-Hall house in Town Creek, also known as Saunders Hall, in 2010. ", StrangeUSA.comsays ghosts of inmates can be heard: "Legend has it that their screams can be heard as they were being burned to death, and you can hear the laugher of the guards that stood by watching.". These, shown in 1935, were demolished but the main house remains. Take a look. When his spirit would pass people in the halls, they would feel cold. Also, the construction of Millers Ferry Lock and Dam in 1963 was really overwhelming. There were a couple of towns that were flooded during the creation of the Norris Dam in 1936. According to Prattvilleal.gov: Pratt's "love of beauty is evidenced in Prattville in his manufactories which feature graceful arches, soaring ceilings and vast open spaces, interesting brick and stonework and a picturesque site alongside Autauga Creek. As they crossed the bridge, the horses were spooked and the carriage was tipped into the water below. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Perrins, Alfonso's, Josie's, and Let's Do Lunch are very casual. Click hereto see more photos. Click hereto see more photos. (Sources: Alabama Department of Youth Services, left; Kelly Kazek, right). DECATUR MALL - $$ - 1801 Beltline Rd SW, Decatur, AL - Yelp Because of the legends, the site was often vandalized. NOTE:This site was visited with permission and under supervision of the State Department of Mental Health. It is now a concert venue. At one point, a caretaker claimed to have seen a coffin in one of the rooms set up as if for a wake. Frederic Ravesies, Arcola's first settler, established himself at what later became known as the Hatch Plantation. Kids and adults will enjoy exploring various hands-on exhibits, including a gallery of bees, turtles, alligators and snakes, a recreated Alabama cave, insect galleries, a 15,000-gallon aquarium, and more. The old Bibb County Jail, built ca. Cook Museum of Natural Science 123 Science Museums Educational sites By alwildflower3 It's fun for groups, children of all ages, and solo adults or couples. VIN Date Reported Stolen Vehicle Year Make Model Tag State Status The city of Cahaba, or Cahawba, located where the Cahaba and Alabama rivers meet, was abandoned in 1825 after severe flooding. List of ghost towns in Colorado - Wikipedia Exploring Abandoned Yet Standing Kmart Decatur Alabama| the Showstopper Some say theyve seen orbs of light that appear to float on the river. She never harmed them, other than perhaps causing some ringing in their ears. 5. Either way, the photos are intriguing. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. There's legend here of a ghost who does housework! As the tale goes, a couple's car drove off the bridge, plunging into the water below. Today, only its stone foundations remain. Tales extend to the adjoining cemetery and even the churchs outhouse. With its troubling past of murder, manslaughter and illegal activity, it isn't that hard to believe either. Matt Glasscock, who took the photo at left, and members of Steel City Urbex were invited by the owner to tour some of the closed portions of the City Federal building in downtown Birmingham. The northeast of Alabama is part of the TAG area (the region where Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet). The Tennessee River railroad bridge on Alabama Highway 43 in Florence is shown in the late 1960s. The legend was recorded by author Kathryn Tucker Windham in 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.. 14. If. Various urban legends have arisen around the claims that Cry Baby Hollow and the bridge going across it are haunted. Norwood, a community in Birmingham, is known among photographers and urban explorers for its crumbling abandoned mansions. But Decatur's dark origins can be traced back to the earliest days of the city, when the original settlers built over the top of Native American burial grounds that were scattered throughout the downtown area of what would become Decatur. The canyon's proximity to the Natchez Trace, which was known as the Devil's Backbone, made it a choice hideout for many outlaws who robbed and murdered travelers along the Trace. Or they are shocked by the waste of still-useful homes and buildings. Today, Jackson Lake Island is open to the public for camping and fishing. The hospital closed for good in 1957 and the building was later used for a variety of purposes, including Dorsey Yarbrough's National School of Music. The home was reportedly built atop old slave quarters and a cemetery. Jesse James is rumored to have holed up in the canyon. He playfully flushed toilets and used ice machines. The home was completed in 1835 by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and former Alabama governor. (Picture: Old schoolhouse). When Hood arrived at Decatur on October 26, he found a Federal infantry force of 3,000 to 5,000 men defending an entrenched line that included two forts and 1,600 yards of rifle pits; a much heavier force than Roddey had believed. A curved staircase inside the 1850 Carpenter Gothic-style home called Spring Villa in Opelika. This photo of the Alabama Capitol in Tuscaloosa was taken in the 1890s or early 1900s. Temple B'nai Shalom in Huntsville's Old Town Historic District, in Huntsville. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Decatur Mill | Ardent Mills The property is still owned by the Department of Mental Health and is trespassing is illegal. The two-story structure made of brick is said to be haunted by the souls of those who were incarcerated there. For information, contact Craig Drescher,info@historicwinterplace.com. Legend says a girl named Sally hung herself in a stairwell on the third floor of the building. That makes sense, because the fort was in use during the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions. It once consisted of 25 buildings constructed in the 1870s or 1880. Add Photos Today, the home has been beautifully restored by the City of Opelika and is the centerpiece of Spring Villa Park. The home of a former Alabama governor, it is reportedly haunted. Metal Detecting in Alabama: 50 Secrets You Need to Know According to legend, people have heard the sounds of muffled explosions, screams and voices. The ROW can still be made out in many places . The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club is a restaurant inside a ca. The abandoned P. D. Barker House at 109 Saint Anthony St. in Mobile in the 1930s. . Eerie screams have been heard and ghostly apparitions have been seen haunting the Moncrief cemetery. Our "history tour with ghosts" reveals not only the highlights of the city's history, but also reveals the history "that no one wants you to know" -- from crime scenes, to scandals, unsolved murders, and more. While visiting the house, a relative, Sally Carter, died of a short illness at the mansion in 1837. The Victoria Inn was built ca. Before long he was drunk and, in his anger, he dragged his wife to the bridge and hanged her from the railing before jumping to his death. According to the Dothan Eagle, employees noticed strange sights in Bella's and Colby's restaurants on the lower floors, including lights turning off and on by themselves and dishes crashing to the floor. GHOST HUNTER'S TOUR: Created in 2005, the extended Ghost Hunter's Tour is a supernatural bus trip with an extra hour of spirits, scandals and sins! After the Jemison Center was built, the hospitals were kept segregated. History and Hauntings Tours of Decatur's Spirits, Scandals & Sins, TOURS:The Haunted Decatur Tours run either 3 or 4 hours in length -- depending on the tour - and travel by bus to various locations throughout the city. What it did offer was good food, comfortable bedrooms, outdoor activities and, according toa history of Shelby Iron Works, the first accommodations with electricity and indoor plumbing in the state. Legend says she fought with her boyfriend and decided to walk home. It is now home to the Lowndesboro Town Hall. Youve Never Experienced Anything Like The Epic Old Railroad Bed Trail, An Abandoned Railroad Hike In Alabama, The Alabama Ghost Town Thats Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip, A Haunting Road Trip Through Alabama Ghost Towns To Take If You Dare, Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Alabama, This Small Alabama Town Is One Of The Creepiest Ghost Towns In America, This Abandoned Funeral Home In Alabama Will Chill You To The Bone, Nature Is Reclaiming This Deserted Alabama Resort And Its Actually Amazing, Everyone In Alabama Should See What This Abandoned Film Set Looks Like. People claim to hear disembodied laughter. (Picture: Prairie Bluff, taken from the Alabama River in 1894), Blakeley, founded in 1813, is a ghost town in Baldwin County, Alabama and was a location of a major fort during the American Civil War. The ruins of Fort Morgan, built in 1819, are spooky on their own. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). It is now a concert venue. Alabamas many historic cemetery sites can be bone-chilling, especially those with an eerie legend associated with it. We're sure this Victorian home in rural Missouri was once quite beautiful. Fort Crawford was built on a bluff in 1816. Apparently the entire length of Main Street is haunted by the ghosts of tornado victims. Decatur's sordid reputation also added to the ghostly stories of the city through incidents of murder and death. There are several websites out there that state something to the effect of "Aunt Johnson would hang anyone who trespassed on her property and the rope can still be seen to this day." That's right, allegedly there are sightings of a ghost sweeping. It is said that a mysterious fog covers this area day or night, and it surrounds the gravestones. Allegedly there is a photo that shows a ghost in it. Following the deaths of John Drish and his wife Sarah, the home was used as a school from 1906 to 1925 and was used as an auto parts warehouse for several years. This private property houses the infamous ghost bridge that has numerous claims of haunting. Best Things to Do in Decatur, Alabama - Southern Living According . This is part of the warehouse complex for Dallas Compress Co. in Selma, photographed in the late 1960s. (Source: Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey). Sloss Furnaces (Birmingham, AL) 20 32nd St. N., Birmingham, AL 35222 (205) 254-2025 In the years following the Civil War, Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces became the mecca of pig iron needed for thousands of steel products around the country. This home was allegedly the site of the murders of an entire family that haunts the site. Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama and is situated near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. The son of former Alabama governor, Robert Patton is said to be one of many ghosts to haunt the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Click here to see Robinson Switch Road on Google Maps. Arcola, established in the early 1820s, is a ghost town on the Black Warrior River in Hale County, Alabama - formerly Marengo County. But this playground is different. 4 bedrooms (42 homes) $317,230. William J. Samford Hall in the Auburn University Historic District. This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. Read more 0 Abbie's House Guntersville, Alabama 39.5 miles from Decatur, AL This home dates back to 1909 and is registered by the local historical society. (Source: Matt Glasscock at left; Birmingham Public Library at right), http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/amazing_photos_show_abandoned.html. Hayden Pursley spent three years restoring the historic hotel and had several stories he often told to include seeing a girl around the age of 12 running down the halls. He also experienced a ghost, thought to Capt. This haunted house is huge and horrifyingso make sure to get your tickets ASAP. The city was the capital after Huntsville was the temporary capital city in 1819 so a Constitutional Convention could be held to choose the first official capital, which was Cahawba. The baby reportedly drowned and was buried not far from the bridge. During the Civil War it was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops at different times. Adjoining Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery is a playground that looks much like any other, featuring a swing set and slide. This abandoned home on Watts Mill Road was built in 1905 by Charles and William Hudson for their brother, John. Abandoned Fitness Decatur Al - 2023 | UsFitnessFinder.com During the Civil War, Nancy lived with her husband and son on a small farm but her son was killed in the war and his body was never recovered. Japeth Rawls. All are on my list of favorites, but they are not listed in order of preference. After a fire and years of deterioration, only a few buildings remain but it has become a popular destination for tourists and photographers. Amazing Abandoned Places in Alabama: Top 10 Choices In 2023 Legend says if you stop by the cemetery gate and put your car in neutral, the Lady in White will push you away from the spot where she was killed so youll be safe. It is located across fromShelby Iron Works Park, which has been preserved as an educational site. During the American Civil War, the town suffered a lot of damage and it was completely abandoned by the 1920s. Alabama Unclaimed Property - Official State Website Located in Decatur, Alabama, the Ardent Mills Decatur facility is a pneumatic mill and one of the most automated mills in the United States. At her death, her family searched the mansion for the candles but were unable to find them. After a mummified woman was discovered in her home, people claimed she was a witch. Most cemeteries are closed at night. According to legend, as Wells peered out of the north window, at a mob gathering below, lightning struck nearby, indelibly etching his image on the pane. Officials have marked the site with an arrow so visitors can spot the face.. Tuscumbia, Alabama 39 miles from Decatur, AL A former slave plantation, it is believed to be haunted by slaves that lived and died here and also possibly by the ghosts of its former owners. At least one of the buildings at Robinson's Switch has the shape of a depot and another long building appears to have been a railroad warehouse. (Source: Karen Manasco via FindaGrave.com). Location: 30338 Lester Road, Lester, Alabama Hours: 7 to 11 p.m. Website: Click here Haunted House of Horror About: Wander around an 8,000 square-foot town filled with supernatural scares. Here is a look at 21 of the most photographed abandoned sites in Alabama. After a sensational trial in Huntsville in 1884, two years after Jesse had been shot to death, Frank was acquitted of that crime. Vernon/Searcy Hospital site, shown here in 1935, with photo galleries. Some claim to see the orb today. The press room in Dallas Compress Co. in Selma. The historic rock building is said to be haunted by two ghosts: one of an older man whose spirit reportedly sets things on fire and slams doors, and one of a little boy whose laughter is heard throughout the theater. Her sons pulled her from the wreckage, but she died in the front bedroom on the eastern side. He was arrested January 1878, and confined to the garret of the present building. Employees claim they've heard disembodied footsteps and voices. When she finally reached her home and reported the accident to her husband, the man began drinking to soothe his grief. Because after an entire life of drudgery and cleaning, that's how every woman wants to spend her afterlife. There is a place in the Talladega National Forest, shown above, were a road was laid over some graves, according to legend. The bridge was built in 1861 as an access route for Confederate forces to Mississippi. Haunted Places in Alabama - Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group Click hereto see more. This airfield built in 1941, shown above in aerial view, was used to train the famous Tuskegee Airmen. Not much info on this, apart from the fact that it is an old, abandoned butcher's shop on the side of this dirt road, about 1.5 miles south from Fletcher Road. Local writer and historian Lee Peacock said the 40-mile stretch of Interstate 65 between Evergreen and Greenville is known as "The Haunted Highway." The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. She is buried in Birminghams Elmwood Cemetery. It is said to be haunted by the men and women who died during the raid. Students and teachers alike have reported seeing white (no reviews) Haunted Places Decatur, Alabama Highway 11 In September 1934, a young man named Lonnie Stephens was wrongfully accused of murdering his (no reviews) BESbswy Because the ground was frozen at the time, she was placed in a coffin in the cellar. Trespassing is punishable by law. 16 Strange and surreal abandoned places | Rough Guides McCandless Hall auditorium, which opened in 1914, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Abigail Burns, an opera singer. The site is reportedly haunted by numerous spirits with the most famous known as Pegues Ghost. Following her death in 1962, people claimed to see a kneeling figure at the grave, according to "Haunted Places: The National Directory." And why? An abandoned 1913 schoolhouse in rural Cherokee County was photographed in the 1930s. In other cases, the buildings are lost to history. This cemetery, established in 1834, is said the be haunted by the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. Cripple Creek - Palace Hotel - Like much of Cripple Creek, the Palace Hotel has a long history. Legend says the face of a woman appears on a tombstone in Sandlin Cemetery. Home Size. Get directions Red Hat Road Decatur , Alabama , 35601 USA Coordinates: 34.65420, -87.07780 Cemetery ID: 21888 Members have Contributed 3 Memorials 0% photographed 0% with gps About these numbers Photos No additional photos. Click here to read more. According to the Auburn University Libraries, this is the only known interior photograph of the building that served as the Dallas County Courthouse at Old Cahaba from ca. National Register of Historic Places listings in Alabama 1830s to 1866. 100+ Abandoned Places In Alabama | Explore Alabama 2023 Recent Locations Judge A. E. Singleton House February 27, 2023 | City/Town: Union Springs Judge Singleton House This home located on North Prairie Street in Union Springs, Alabama was built by Judge A. E. Singleton sometime between 1900 and 1903. The swings sometimes can be seen swinging by themselves, and the sounds of laughter Urban legend tells of a man who was hit by a car and killed while walking across this bridge. We hope to get permission to go photograph it very soon.. Ghost towns, especially those that have been completely abandoned, can be a bit creepy. Abandoned Marshall Space Flight Center power plant test stand in the east test area in Huntsville shown in 1968. It is also known as the Colby Building. All the locals know it as "Abbie's House," as it was built and lived in by Abbie Smith, who founded the United Methodist church in nearby Warrenton, AL. Although the haunting of Sloss Furnaces is oft repeated, legends surrounding Bass Cemetery in Irondale are definitely the spookiest. Farming towns on the eastern plains were often deserted due to rural depopulation. Legends claim the captains spirit roams the cemetery, keeping watch over his children. Molly was bittem by her puppy, which had contracted rabies. In 2020, Troy introduces the 25th Anniversary Edition of his first book! The hotel's location next to the Shelby Iron Works, built in 1842 for access to a spring on the property, made it a popular weekend destination for the public but it was also used by employees of the Iron Works. The property is for sale. The Cedarhurst Mansion Estate was originally built in 1823 by Stephen Ewing. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. (Picture: St. Stephens Gravesite), Riverton, located in Colbert County, Alabama, was an old trade town that was destroyed when the Pickwick Landing Dam was built during the 1930s. 3 bedrooms (63 homes) $205,869. An obituary written by J. T. Melton states that Hall was born on March 3, 1830, in Lawrence County, Tennessee, although there is conflicting evidence that he was actually born on March 4, 1924.